JD Sports targeting retail parks as part of expansion plans

JD Sports is looking to open 10 retail park stores a year, as part of wider growth plans which would see the retailer launch hundreds of new stores annually.

This follows a period of rapid expansion for JD, which opened seven retail park sites in 2022.

Following an upsize at Fosse Park, Leicester, as well as openings at Aberdeen, Blackburn, Crewe, Handforth, Leeds, and Prestatyn in 2022, JD Sports now operates 98 out-of-town stores.

This is in addition to its 305 stores on UK high streets.

In 2023, JD Sports has already arranged contracts for seven new openings, and just last week opened at Cyfarthfa Shopping Park in Merthyr Tydfil, doubling the size of its existing store.

The retailer is now targeting more out-of-town units in 2023, between 6,000 and 10,000 sq ft on the ground floor with 2,000 sq ft of mezzanine space considered.

James Potter of Avison Young has been appointed by the retailer to find suitable spaces.